The Sixth Estate

The Canadian Climate Survey is tracking historical and average temperatures in cities and towns across the country, as part of an effort to put something of a local face on global climate change.

Trend: Since the 1980s, Banff’s average annual temperature has increased 0.6 ˚C, from 2.2 ˚C in the 1980s to 2.8 ˚C in 2002-2011.

Temperature Extremes: Over the period since the 1880s, only 2 of Calgary’s 10 hottest years have occurred in the two decades since 1990. In addition, 1 of the city’s coldest years has happened in the same timespan — 1996, when the average temperature plummeted to 1.9 ˚C.

Long-Term Consequences: If this represents a new trend, Banff’s average temperature will increase to 5.5 ˚C by 2100.

* Data for this chart was taken from the Environment Canada homogenized data archive.

 

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